Portable information device

ABSTRACT

A portable information device is capable of stably supporting a foldable display. The portable information device has a support plate which is fixed to the inner surface sides of a first chassis member and a second chassis member and supports the rear surface of a display. The support plate has a first plate member disposed on the inner surface side of the first chassis member, a second plate member disposed on the inner surface side of the second chassis member, and a flexible sheet-like member connecting the first plate member and the second plate member so as to be foldable into a double-folded state.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable information device in whicha foldable display is provided inside a pair of foldable chassismembers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, portable information devices, such as a tablet PC and asmartphone having a touch panel type liquid crystal display and nothaving a physical keyboard, have rapidly spread. The display of thiskind of portable information device has been desired to be large in usebut has been desired to be miniaturized in carrying. Then, a portableinformation device has been proposed in which not only a chassis but adisplay is configured so as to be foldable by the use of a flexibledisplay, such as organic EL (Electro Luminescence) (for example, seePatent Document 1).

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2014-216025

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The flexible display described above is very thin and vulnerable toimpact or the like. Therefore, the display needs to be stably supportedon the inner surface side of the chassis member which is movable to bedouble-folded.

The present invention has been made considering the above-describedproblems of the former technique. It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a portable information device capable of stablysupporting a foldable display.

A portable information device according to the present invention has afirst chassis member, a second chassis member foldably connected withthe first chassis member, a display which is provided over the innersurfaces of the first chassis member and the second chassis member andwhich is foldable into a double-folded state, and a support plate whichis fixed to the inner surface sides of the first chassis member and thesecond chassis member and supports the rear surface of the display, inwhich the support plate has a first plate member disposed on the innersurface side of the first chassis member, a second plate member disposedon the inner surface side of the second chassis member, and a flexiblesheet-like member connecting the first plate member and the second platemember so as to be foldable into a double-folded state.

The flexible sheet-like member may be configured so as to be provided onthe entire surfaces of the first plate member and the second platemember, and may be configured so that the display is fixed to thesurface thereof.

A configuration may be acceptable in which, while a gap is formedbetween one end surface of the first plate member and one end surface ofthe second plate member facing the one end surface of the first platemember, in a state where the first chassis member and the second chassismember are folded into a double-folded state, a gap is not formed in astate where the first chassis member and the second chassis member areopened into a flat plate shape.

A configuration may be acceptable in which the first plate member andthe second plate member are formed of a fiber reinforced resin plate andthe flexible sheet-like member is formed of metallic foil.

A configuration may be acceptable in which at least one of the firstplate member and the second plate member has an attachment pieceprojecting outwardly from a part of the outer peripheral end surface andis fixed to the first chassis member or the second chassis memberthrough the attachment piece.

A configuration may be acceptable in which at least one of the firstplate member and the second plate member has an attachment portionprojecting from the rear surface of an outer peripheral edge portionthereof and is fixed to the first chassis member or the second chassismember through the attachment portion.

A configuration may be acceptable in which a cushion member is placedbetween the rear surface of the support plate and the inner surface ofat least one of the first chassis member and the second chassis member.

A configuration may be acceptable in which a damping member is providedon the rear surface side of the support plate.

A configuration may be acceptable in which, while a main substrate onwhich an arithmetic unit is mounted is provided on the inner surface ofthe first chassis member, a sub-substrate controlling the display stateof the display is provided on the inner surface of the second chassismember, the main substrate and the sub-substrate are electricallyconnected by a main wiring line crossing the first chassis member andthe second chassis member, and the display is electrically connectedwith the sub-substrate by a sub-wiring line drawn out from a portionlocated on the inner surface side of the second chassis member.

A configuration may be acceptable in which the first chassis member andthe second chassis member are electrically connected, one end portion ofthe display and the second chassis member are electrically connected,and the other end portion opposite to the one end portion of the displayand the first chassis member are electrically connected.

A configuration may be acceptable in which, while the first chassismember is electrically connected with the first plate member, the secondchassis member is electrically connected with the second plate member,and the portable information device has a first conductive memberelectrically connecting the first chassis member and the second chassismember by electrically connecting the first plate member and the secondplate member, and a second conductive member electrically connecting theother end portion of the display and the first chassis member byelectrically connecting the other end portion of the display and thefirst plate member.

A portable information device according to the present invention has afirst chassis member, a second chassis member foldably connected withthe first chassis member, a display which is provided over the innersurfaces of the first chassis member and the second chassis member andwhich is foldable into a double-folded state, a main substrate on whichan arithmetic unit is mounted is provided on the inner surface of thefirst chassis member, and a sub-substrate controlling the display stateof the display is provided on the inner surface of the second chassismember, in which the main substrate and the sub-substrate areelectrically connected by a main wiring line crossing the first chassismember and the second chassis member, and the display is electricallyconnected with the sub-substrate by a sub-wiring line drawn out from aportion located on the inner surface side of the second chassis member.

A portable information device according to the present invention has afirst chassis member, a second chassis member foldably connected withthe first chassis member, a rectangular display which is provided overthe inner surfaces of the first chassis member and the second chassismember and which is foldable into a double-folded state, in which thefirst chassis member and the second chassis member are electricallyconnected, one end portion of the display and the second chassis memberare electrically connected, and the other end portion opposite to theone end portion of the display is electrically connected with the firstchassis member.

According to the present invention, the foldable display can be stablysupported by the support plate on the inner surface sides of thefoldable chassis members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a portableinformation device according to one embodiment of the present inventionis closed into a storage form.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state wherethe portable information device illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened into ausage form.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the portable information deviceillustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating theconfiguration of a support plate.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view along the VA-VA line in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state where thesupport plate illustrated in FIG. 5A is folded into a double-foldedstate.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the fixingstructure to a chassis member of the support plate using an attachmentpiece.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the fixingstructure to the chassis member of the support plate using an attachmentportion.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a principal portionillustrating an example of the configuration of providing a dampingsheet as a damping member.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a principal portionillustrating an example of the configuration of providing a dampingspring as a damping member.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a main wiring linestructure of the portable information device.

FIG. 11A is a side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating astate where the display is disposed outside in a reversed state and themain wiring line is connected.

FIG. 11B is a side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating astate where the display is attached and fixed to the inner surface sideof the chassis member from the state illustrated in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a side view schematically illustrating the main groundstructure of the portable information device.

FIG. 12B is a block diagram schematically illustrating the main groundstructure of the portable information device.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a principal portionillustrating a state where the display and a first plate member areconnected with a ground tape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferable embodiment of a portable information deviceaccording to the present invention is described in detail with referenceto the attached drawings.

1. Description of Entire Configuration of Portable Information Device

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a portableinformation device 10 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention is closed into a storage form. FIG. 2 is a perspective viewschematically illustrating a state where the portable information device10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened into a usage form. FIG. 3 is a sidecross-sectional view of the portable information device 10 illustratedin FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the portable information device 10has a first chassis member 12A, a second chassis member 12B, a backboneportion 14, and a display 16. This embodiment describes a tablet PCwhich is foldable into a double-folded state like a book as an exampleof the portable information device 10. The portable information device10 may be a cellular phone, a smartphone, an electronic notebook, or thelike.

The chassis members 12A and 12B each are rectangular plate-like membersin which the side walls are formed so as to be raised on three sidesother than the side corresponding to the backbone portion 14. Thechassis members 12A and 12B each contain metal plates of stainlesssteel, magnesium, and aluminum, fiber reinforced resin plates containingreinforced fibers, such as carbon fibers, and the like, for example. Tothe inner surface sides of the chassis members 12A and 12B, a display 16is fixed through a support plate 18 (see FIG. 3). The chassis members12A and 12B are connected through a pair of hinge mechanisms 19 and 19provided on both end portions of the backbone portion 14. The hingemechanisms 19 connect the chassis members 12A and 12B so as to befoldable into the storage form illustrated in FIG. 1 and the usage formillustrated in FIG. 2.

In the chassis members 12A and 12B, inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba onthe backbone portion 14 side serve as hinge sides, and outer endsurfaces 12Ab and 12Bb on the side opposite to the backbone portion 14serve as open end portion sides.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a main substrate 20 is fixed to the innersurface of the first chassis member 12A using conductive screws 22. Themain substrate 20 is an electronic substrate for performing the overallcontrol of the portable information device 10. On the main substrate 20,various kinds of electronic components, such as a central processingunit (CPU) 20 a and a memory which are not illustrated, are mounted. Theconductive screw 22 is a screw formed of metal, resin, and the likehaving conductivity.

A sub-substrate 24 is fixed to the inner surface of the second chassismember 12B using the conductive screws 22. The sub-substrate 24 is anelectronic substrate functioning as a controller controlling the displaystate of the display 16. A battery device 26 is fixed to the innersurface of the second chassis member 12B in parallel to thesub-substrate 24. The battery device 26 is a power source of theportable information device 10 and can be charged from an external powersource through a power cable which is not illustrated.

The backbone portion 14 is a thin plate-like member having flexibilityserving as the backbone in folding the portable information device 10 asillustrated in FIG. 1. In the case of this embodiment, the backboneportion 14 is provided throughout between the chassis members 12A and12B so as to cover the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba from the innerside. The backbone portion 14 is slidable along the direction in whichthe chassis members 12A and 12B are arranged on the inner surfaces ofthe chassis members 12A and 12B. In the usage form illustrated in FIG.3, the backbone portion 14 is disposed in a flat plate shape along theinner surfaces of the chassis members 12A and 12B, the inner endsurfaces 12Aa and 12Ba of which are caused to abut on each other. In thestorage form illustrated in FIG. 1, the backbone portion 14 is disposedin an arc shape so as to cover the gap between the inner end surfaces12Aa and 12Ba of the chassis members 12A and 12B which are separatedfrom each other.

The display 16 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display, forexample. The display 16 is configured so as to be foldable together withthe chassis members 12A and 12B when the chassis members 12A and 12B arefolded. The display 16 is a flexible display, such as an organic ELhaving a paper structure with high flexibility, for example and isopened/closed with an opening/closing operation of the chassis members12A and 12B. The display 16 is attached and fixed to the inner surfacesides of the chassis members 12A and 12B through the support plate 18. Arear surface 16 a of the display surface (front surface) of the display16 is pasted and fixed to a surface 18 a of the support plate 18 usingan adhesive or the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a bezel member 27 is disposed on anouter peripheral edge portion of the surface of the display 16 in thestate of being attached and fixed to the inner surface sides of thechassis members 12A and 12B through the support plate 18. The bezelmember 27 is provided so as to cover a non-displaying region (inactiveregion) R2 of the outer peripheral edge portion excluding a displayregion (active region) R1 of the surface of the display 16.

2. Description of Support Plate

The support plate 18 is described. The display 16 is very thin, andtherefore, when fixed alone to the chassis members 12A and 12B, thedisplay 16 has a concern of causing a breakage or a defect. Then, in theportable information device 10, an assembly component in which thesupport plate 18 is stuck to the rear surface 16 a of the display 16 isattached and fixed to the chassis members 12A and 12B.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating theconfiguration of the support plate 18. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional viewalong the VA-VA line in FIG. 4. FIG. 5B is a side cross-sectional viewillustrating a state where the support plate 18 illustrated in FIG. 5Ais folded into a double-folded state.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 to FIG. 5B, the support plate 18 has a firstplate member 28A, a second plate member 28B, and a sheet-like member(flexible sheet-like member) 30.

The first plate member 28A is a rectangular plate-like member to bedisposed on the inner surface side of the first chassis member 12A. Theouter shape, as viewed in plane of the first plate member 28A, isslightly smaller than the first chassis member 12A (see FIG. 3). Thesecond plate member 28B is a rectangular plate-like member to bedisposed on the inner surface side of the second chassis member 12B. Theouter shape, as viewed in plane of the second plate member 28B, isslightly smaller than the second chassis member 12B (see FIG. 3). Thesupport plates 28A and 28B contain metal plates of stainless steel,magnesium, and aluminum, fiber reinforced resin plates in which a matrixresin containing a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin isimpregnated with reinforced fibers, such as carbon fibers, and the like,for example. In this embodiment, a carbon fiber reinforced resin platecontaining carbon fibers as a reinforced resin is used.

The first plate member 28A and the second plate member 28B are connectedso as to be foldable into a double-folded state by the sheet-like member30 stuck to the entire surfaces 18 a and 18 a thereof. In the platemembers 28A and 28B, inner end surfaces (one end surface) 28Aa and 28Bafacing each other serve as the hinge sides, and the outer end surfaces(other end surface) 28Ab and 28Bb opposite to the hinge side serve asthe open end portion sides.

The sheet-like member 30 is a thin film containing a material havingflexibility, such as a thin resin film or metallic foil. The sheet-likemember 30 is stuck to the entire surfaces 18 a of the plate members 28Aand 28B. In this embodiment, a metallic foil containing stainless steelis used as the sheet-like member 30. The sheet-like member 30 is bondedto the surfaces 18 a of the plate members 28A and 28B using an adhesiveor the like. The display 16 is stuck to the surface of the sheet-likemember 30 using an adhesive, a double-sided tape, or the like. In thesheet-like member 30, a portion covering the inner end surfaces 28Aa and28Ba which are adjacent end portions of the plate members 28A and 28Bfunctions as a bending portion (flexible hinge) 32 of the support plate18.

In the bending portion 32, the inner end surface 28Aa of the first platemember 28A and the inner end surface 28Ba of the second plate member 28Babut on each other in the usage form in which the chassis members 12Aand 12B are opened into a flat plate shape (see FIG. 5A). Morespecifically, no gap is formed between the inner end surfaces 28Aa and28Ba. Therefore, the support plate 18 can support the entire region ofthe rear surface 16 a of the display 16 in the usage form with the hardplate members 28A and 28B. As a result, the impact resistance of thedisplay 16 is improved.

On the other hand, in the storage form in which the chassis members 12Aand 12B are folded, the inner end surfaces 28Aa and 28Ba are separatedfrom each other, so that a gap 34 is formed (see FIG. 5B). Therefore, inthe sheet-like member 30, a portion (portion exposed to the gap 34 inFIG. 5B) corresponding to the bending portion 32 is not bonded to theplate members 28A and 28B.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the first plate member 28A, one or two ormore of attachment pieces 38 each are formed so as to project on theouter peripheral end surfaces of the three sides other than the innerend surface 28Aa. The attachment piece 38 is a projection piece havingan arc-shaped tip and having a plate thickness which is the same as orslightly smaller than the plate thickness of the first plate member 28A.In the attachment piece 38, an attachment hole 38 a penetrating in theplate thickness direction is formed. In the second plate member 28B, oneor two or more of attachment portions 40 each are fixed to the rearsurface 18 b of outer peripheral end portions of three sides other thanthe inner end surface 28Ba. The attachment portion 40 is a boss memberin which a cylindrical pin 40 a is protrusively provided in theundersurface of a rectangular thin substrate. In the pin 40 a, a femalescrew opened in the top end surface is formed in the axial direction. Ineach of the attachment portions 40, the upper surface of the thinsubstrate is stuck to the rear surface 18 b of the second plate member28B using an adhesive, a double-sided tape, or the like. The secondplate member 28B is also provided with the attachment piece 38 on one ofthe outer peripheral end surfaces. The attachment portion 40 may also beprovided in the first plate member 28A.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the fixingstructure to the chassis members 12A and 12B of the support plate 18using the attachment piece 38. FIG. 7 is a perspective viewschematically illustrating the fixing structure to the chassis members12A and 12B of the support plate 18 using the attachment portion 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, each attachment piece 38 isattached and fixed to the first plate member 28A through the conductivescrew 22 to be inserted into the attachment hole 38 a. As illustrated inFIG. 3 and FIG. 7, each attachment portion 40 is attached and fixed tothe second plate member 28B through the conductive screw 22 to beinserted into a countersunk hole portion 39 formed in the outer surfaceof the second plate member 28B.

By the use of the attachment pieces 38 and the attachment portions 40,the support plate 18 (display 16) is attached and fixed in a supportstate like a trampoline in which the outer peripheral edge portionthereof is held on the inner surface sides of the chassis members 12Aand 12B. Thus, the support plate 18 is supported with a cushionstructure in upper portions of the chassis members 12A and 12B. In thecase of this embodiment, since the display 16 is a thin flexible displayand the surface cannot be protected with a hard glass plate or the like,the display 16 also has a problem of low impact resistance. Then, bysupporting the support plate 18 with the cushion structure, impact or aload caused by a substance falling on the display 16 or falling of theportable information device 10 can be absorbed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, cushion members 41 may be provided between therear surface 18 b of the support plate 18 and the inner surfaces of thechassis members 12A and 12B. By providing the cushion members 41, aportion around a central portion of the support plate 18 (display 16),only the outer peripheral edge portion of which is supported, can besupported without impairing the impact resistance. The cushion member 41is a flexible member formed of a silicone-based gel material, a foamedrubber, or the like, for example. In this embodiment, Alpha GEL (®)which is the silicone-based gel material is used as the cushion members41.

3. Description of Modification of Impact Absorbing Structure to Display

As described above, the display 16 is vulnerable to impact, andtherefore, a structure for absorbing the impact may be provided. FIG. 8is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a principal portionillustrating an example of the configuration of providing a dampingsheet 48 as a damping member. FIG. 9 is an enlarged side cross-sectionalview of a principal portion illustrating an example of the configurationof providing a damping spring 49 as a damping member.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the damping sheet 48 is stuck to the rearsurface 18 b of the support plate 18 using an adhesive, a double-sidedtape, or the like. The damping sheet 48 is a sheet containing a materialwhich hardly repulses external force when received and can absorb impactor vibration, for example. In this embodiment, Hanenaito (®) and VBRAN(®) which are rubber-based damping materials are used as the dampingsheet 48. By providing the damping sheet 48 on the rear surface 18 b ofthe support plate 18, impact or vibration applied to the surface of thedisplay 16 is absorbed by the damping sheet 48, so that the impactresistance of the display 16 can be improved.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the damping spring 49 is a spring memberobtained by forming a plate spring member with a predetermined widthinto an arch shape, for example. In the damping spring 49, leg portionsare landed and fixed to the inner surfaces of the chassis members 12Aand 12B, and a top portion is caused to abut on or disposed near therear surface 18 b of the support plate 18. By placing the damping spring49 between the support plate 18 and the chassis members 12A and 12B,impact or vibration applied to the surface of the display 16 isabsorbed, so that the impact resistance of the display 16 can beimproved. The damping spring 49 may not have the arch shape and maycontain a damper, a coil spring, and the like.

4. Description of Wiring Line Structure and Wiring Method

The wiring line structure and a wiring method of the portableinformation device 10 are described. The portable information device 10adopts the configuration in which the portable information device 10 isfoldable into a double-folded state. Therefore, an electronic substrateor electronic components are disposed as appropriate on the innersurfaces of the chassis members 12A and 12B on the right side and theleft side, and wiring lines connecting the same need to be providedcrossing the backbone portion 14 to be bent. Moreover, the electronicsubstrate and the wiring lines are hidden on the rear surface side ofthe display 16, and therefore it is preferable to appropriately buildthe attachment structure of the display 16 and the wiring line structureand a wiring method thereof.

4.1 Description of Wiring Structure

First, the wiring line structure is described. FIG. 10 is a blockdiagram schematically illustrating a main wiring line structure of theportable information device 10 and illustrates the inner surface sidesof the chassis members 12A and 12B brought into the usage form in planview in which the display 16 is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the main substrate 20, a communication module50, a cooling fan 52, and the like are attached and fixed to the innersurface of the first chassis member 12A. The communication module 50 isa device performing information processing of various wirelesscommunications of wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and the likeperforming transmission and receiving with an antenna 54. The coolingfan 52 is a fan for cooling heat generated in the central processingunit 20 a and the like mounted on the main substrate 20. To the innersurface of the second chassis member 12B, the sub-substrate 24, thebattery device 26, the antenna 54, and the like are attached and fixed.

The main substrate 20 and the sub-substrate 24 are electricallyconnected by a main wiring line 56 crossing the backbone portion 14. Themain substrate 20 and the battery device 26 are electrically connectedby a battery wiring line 58 crossing the backbone portion 14. The mainwiring line 56 and the battery wiring line 58 contain a plurality ofwiring line bundles, a flexible substrate, and the like, for example.The communication module 50 and the antenna 54 are electricallyconnected by a wiring line 60 crossing the backbone portion 14. Theportable information device 10 has a plurality of wiring lines, whichare not illustrated, crossing the backbone portion 14 besides the wiringlines described above.

The sub-substrate 24 is electrically connected with the display 16 by asub-wiring line 62. The sub-wiring line 62 contains a plurality ofwiring line bundles, a flexible substrate, and the like, for example.The sub-wiring line 62 connects the sub-substrate 24 disposed on thesecond chassis member 12B and one end portion 16 b in the longitudinaldirection of the display 16 is disposed on the second chassis member 12Bside (see also FIG. 11B). More specifically, the sub-wiring line 62 doesnot cross the backbone portion 14.

4.2 Description of Wiring Method

Next, a wiring method is described. The wiring method is a methodincluding first connecting the main wiring line 56 and the like to behidden by the display 16, and then turning back the wiring by thesub-wiring line 62 to thereby dispose the display 16. FIG. 11A is a sidecross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state where thedisplay 16 is disposed outside in a reversed state and the main wiringline 56 is connected. FIG. 11B is a side cross-sectional viewschematically illustrating a state where the display 16 is attached andfixed to the inner surface sides of the chassis members 12A and 12B fromthe state illustrated in FIG. 11A. FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B illustrate thestates omitting the attachment piece 38, the attachment portion 40, andthe like.

As illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11A, the wiring lines crossing thebackbone portion 14, such as the main wiring line 56, the battery wiringline 58, and the wiring line 60, are connected first. For example, themain wiring line 56 is connected with the sub-substrate 24 through aconnector 56 a, and the connector 56 a is firmly fixed to thesub-substrate 24 using a screw 64. Furthermore, the sub-wiring line 62is connected between the sub-substrate 24 and the one end portion 16 bof the display 16, and then the display 16 is disposed outside thesecond chassis member 12B in the reversed state through the sub-wiringline 62. The sub-wiring line 62 may be connected before connecting themain wiring line 56 and the like. Therefore, the main wiring line 56 andthe like can be wired and connected preventing the display 16 from beingan obstacle.

Herein, the main wiring line 56 and the like crossing the backboneportion 14 are certainly disposed or fixed at positions where the mainwiring line 56 and the like can cope with a folding operation of thechassis members 12A and 12B. This can avoid the application of anunintended load or the occurrence of bending in the wiring linescrossing the backbone portion 14, such as the main wiring line 56, in anopening/closing operation of the chassis members 12A and 12B. Herein,the inner surfaces of the chassis members 12A and 12B are not coveredwith the display 16, and therefore the main wiring line 56 and the likecrossing the backbone portion 14 can be easily and certainly wired atdesired designed positions.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the sub-wiring line 62 isturned back, and the display 16 is disposed on the inner surface sidesof the chassis members 12A and 12B. Thus, the one end portion 16 b ofthe display 16 is disposed on the outer end surface 12Bb side of thesecond chassis member 12B, and another end portion 16 c on the oppositeside in the longitudinal direction is disposed on the outer end surface12Ab side of the first chassis member 12A. Then, as illustrated in FIG.3, the support plate 18 is fixed to the inner surface sides of thechassis members 12A and 12B through the attachment pieces 38 and theattachment portions 40, and then the bezel member 27 is attached. Thus,the wiring of the portable information device 10 and the attachment andfixation of the display 16 are completed. The sub-wiring line 62 doesnot cross the backbone portion 14. Therefore, even when a positionalshift occurs when disposing the display 16 on the inner surface sides ofthe chassis members 12A and 12B, no problems occur.

5. Description of Ground Structure

The ground structure of the portable information device 10 is described.The portable information device 10 adopts the configuration in which theportable information device 10 is foldable into a double-folded state.Therefore, the electronic components are disposed as appropriate on thechassis members 12A and 12B on the right side and the left side, and thedisplay 16 is provided over the chassis members 12A and 12B on the rightside and the left side. In particular, when a self-light emittingelement, such as organic electroluminescence, is used for the display16, a relatively large current gradient is generated from an anode sideon one end side of the display 16 toward a cathode side on the other endside thereof. Therefore, it is desired to build an appropriate frameground between the chassis members 12A and 12B of this foldingstructure.

FIG. 12A is a side view schematically illustrating the main groundstructure of the portable information device 10. FIG. 12B is a blockdiagram schematically illustrating the main ground structure of theportable information device 10. In FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B, the elements,such as the sheet-like member 30 of the support plate 18, are omitted.

In the case of this embodiment, the chassis members 12A and 12B and theplate members 28A and 28B are formed of a conductor. As illustrated inFIG. 12A and FIG. 12B, the main substrate 20 and the first plate member28A each are attached and fixed to the first chassis member 12A usingthe conductive screws 22 (see also FIG. 3). The sub-substrate 24 and thesecond plate member 28B each are attached and fixed to the secondchassis member 12B using the conductive screws 22 (see also FIG. 3). Asa result, the main substrate 20 and the first chassis member 12A areelectrically connected, and the first plate member 28A and the firstchassis member 12A are electrically connected. The sub-substrate 24 andthe second chassis member 12B are electrically connected, and the secondplate member 28B and the second chassis member 12B are electricallyconnected.

Then, between an engagement portion of the conductive screw 22 to thefirst chassis member 12A of the first plate member 28A and an engagementportion of the conductive screw 22 to the second chassis member 12B ofthe second plate member 28B, a ground wiring line (first conductivemember) 66 crossing the backbone portion 14 is connected by co-fasteningby the conductive screws 22 (see also FIG. 4). Thus, the first platemember 28A and the second plate member 28B are electrically connected.As a result, the first chassis member 12A and the second chassis member12B are also electrically connected.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B, the main substrate 20 onthe first chassis member 12A side and the sub-substrate 24 on the secondchassis member 12B side are electrically connected with the main wiringline 56 and a return path 67 crossing the backbone portion 14. On thesecond chassis member 12B side, the sub-substrate 24 and the one endportion 16 b of the display 16 are electrically connected by thesub-wiring line 62. As a result, the one end portion 16 b of the display16 and the chassis members 12A and 12B are electrically connected.Therefore, in the display 16, the one end portion 16 b side in thelongitudinal direction serves as the anode side, and the other endportion 16 c side thereof serves as the cathode side, and an electricalresistance value therebetween increases to generate a current gradientfrom the one end portion 16 b to the other end portion 16 c.

Then, in the portable information device 10, the other end portion 16 cof the display 16 and the first plate member 28A are connected with aground tape (second conductive member) 68 on the second chassis member12B side. The ground tape 68 is an adhesive tape having conductivity. Asillustrated in FIG. 13, the ground tape 68 is pasted and fixed throughthe end surface of the support plate 18 so as to connect a conductivepad portion 16 d exposed to the other end portion 16 c of the display 16and the first plate member 28A. A common ground wiring line may be usedin place of the ground tape 68. Thus, the other end portion 16 c of thedisplay 16 and the first plate members 28A are electrically connected.Therefore, the other end portion 16 c of the display 16 and the chassismembers 12A and 12B are also electrically connected. As a result, theground level between the one end portion 16 b and the other end portion16 c in the longitudinal direction serving as the current drivingdirection of the display 16 is fixed. Thus, the ground structure in theportable information device 10 is built and a measure against a noise(EMC) is also achieved.

6. Description of Operational Effects of Portable Information Device

As described above, the portable information device 10 according to thisembodiment has the support plate 18 which is fixed to the inner surfacesides of the first chassis member 12A and the second chassis member 12Band supports the rear surface 16 a of the display 16. The support plate18 has the first plate member 28A disposed on the inner surface side ofthe first chassis member 12A, the second plate member 28B disposed onthe inner surface side of the second chassis member 12B, and thesheet-like member 30 connecting the first plate member 28A and thesecond plate member 28B so as to be foldable into a double-folded state.

Thus, the portable information device 10 supports the rear surface 16 aof the display 16 which is a foldable flexible display with the foldablesupport plate 18. Therefore, the display 16 can be stably supported bythe support plate 18 on the inner surface sides of the chassis members12A and 12B. As a result, impact or a load to the display 16 can bereceived by the support plate 18, so that the generation of a defect ofthe display 16 can be prevented.

The sheet-like member 30 is provided on the entire surfaces 18 a of thefirst plate member 28A and the second plate member 28B, and the display16 is fixed to the surface thereof. Therefore, a uniform plane can beformed by the sheet-like member 30 provided on the entire surface of thesupport plate 18 having the two plate members 28A and 28B connected witheach other. Thus, the display 16 can be further stably supported and thegeneration of a defect can be further certainly prevented.

Between the inner end surface 28Aa which is one end surface of the firstplate member 28A and the inner end surface 28Ba which is one end surfaceof the second plate member 28B facing the inner end surface 28Aa, a gapis formed in the state where the first chassis member 12A and the secondchassis member 12B are folded into a double-folded state (see FIG. 5B).On the other hand, no gap is formed in the state where the first chassismember 12A and the second chassis member 12B are opened into a flatplate shape (see FIG. 5A). Thus, when the portable information device 10is in the usage form, not only the flexible sheet-like member 30 but thehard plate members 28A and 28B are disposed at a portion correspondingto the bending portion 32 of the display 16. As a result, the impactresistance of the display 16 can be prevented from lowering in theportion corresponding to the bending portion 32, so that high impactresistance can be secured in the entire region.

In the portable information device 10, a fiber reinforced resin plate,particularly a carbon fiber reinforced resin plate, is used for thefirst plate member 28A and the second plate member 28B, and metallicfoil, particularly a stainless steel sheet, is used for the sheet-likemember 30. In the support plate 18 containing this combination, highereffects are obtained in the impact absorbability, the bendingdurability, the surface flatness, and the like. The thickness of thestainless steel sheet forming the sheet-like member 30 varies dependingon the type of the stainless material, the bending curvature, and thelike, and is preferably about 40 μm, for example.

The plate members 28A and 28B have the attachment pieces 38 projectingoutwardly from a part of the outer peripheral end surfaces thereof andare fixed to the chassis members 12A and 12B through the attachmentpieces 38. Thus, the support plate 18 supporting the display 16 isattached and fixed with the cushion structure like a trampoline on theinner surface sides of the chassis members 12A and 12B. As a result, theimpact resistance of the display 16 is improved. The attachment pieces38 may be provided only in either the plate member 28A or 28B.

Such an attachment piece 38 projects outwardly from the outer peripheralend surfaces of the plate members 28A and 28B. Therefore, the engagementportions to the chassis members 12A and 12B of the attachment pieces 38serving as hard supporting points can be separated as soon as possiblefrom the display region R1 of the display 16, so that impact to thedisplay region R1 can be effectively reduced.

However, the display region R1 of the display 16 is not necessarilydisposed on the center of the outside of the display 16 as illustratedin FIG. 3. More specifically, in the display 16, the sub-wiring line 62is connected with the one end surface (one end portion 16 b) side in thelongitudinal direction, for example (see FIG. 12A), and therefore thewiring lines from the elements forming the display region R1 to thesub-wiring line 62 gather on the one end portion 16 b side. Then, in thecase of this embodiment, the non-displaying region R2 on the one endportion 16 b side of the display 16 is configured so as to be broaderthan the non-displaying region R2 on the other end portion 16 c side(see FIG. 3). On the other hand, it is desirable that the display regionR1 of the display 16 is disposed on the center of the outer shape withrespect to the chassis members 12A and 12B brought into the usage form.Then, in the case of this embodiment, the gap between the one endportion 16 b of the display 16 and the outer wall (outer end surface12Bb) of the second chassis member 12B is set so as to be narrower thanthe gap between the other end portion 16 c and the outer wall (outer endsurface 12Ab) of the first chassis member 12A, so that the displayregion R1 is set at the center of the chassis members 12A and 12B.

For such reasons, the support plate 18 supporting the entire region ofthe rear surface 16 a of the display 16 is structured so as to hardlyproject the attachment pieces 38 from the end surface supporting the oneend portion 16 b of the display 16. Then, in the portable informationdevice 10, the attachment portion 40 configured so as not to projectoutwardly is used for the outer peripheral edge portion of the secondplate member 28B corresponding to the one end portion 16 b of thedisplay 16. As a result, the portable information device 10 can achieveboth the suppression of the enlargement of the chassis structure and thecertain support of the display 16 by the support plate 18.

It is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited tothe embodiments described above and can be freely altered withoutdeviating from the scope of the present invention.

We claim:
 1. A portable information device comprising: a first chassismember; a second chassis member foldably connected with the firstchassis member; a display over inner surfaces of the first chassismember and the second chassis member, and which is foldable into adouble-folded state; and a support plate fixed to inner surface sides ofthe first chassis member and the second chassis member and supports arear surface of the display; wherein the support plate has a first platemember on the inner surface side of the first chassis member, a secondplate member on the inner surface side of the second chassis member, anda flexible sheet-like member connecting the first plate member and thesecond plate member so as to be foldable into a double-folded state;wherein the flexible sheet-like member is on entire surfaces of thefirst plate member and the second plate member, and the display is fixedto a surface of the flexible sheet-like member.
 2. The portableinformation device according to claim 1, wherein: a gap is formedbetween one end surface of the first plate member and one end surface ofthe second plate member facing the one end surface of the first platemember in a state where the first chassis member and the second chassismember are folded into a double-folded state, and a gap is not formed ina state where the first chassis member and the second chassis member areopened into a flat plate shape.
 3. The portable information deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: the first plate member and the secondplate member are formed of a fiber reinforced resin plate, and theflexible sheet-like member is formed of metallic foil.
 4. The portableinformation device according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of thefirst plate member and the second plate member has an attachment pieceprojecting outwardly from a part of an outer peripheral end surfacethereof, and is fixed to the first chassis member or the second chassismember through the attachment piece.
 5. The portable information deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the first plate memberand the second plate member has an attachment portion projecting from arear surface of an outer peripheral edge portion of the at least one ofthe first plate member and the second plate member, and is fixed to thefirst chassis member or the second chassis member through the attachmentportion.
 6. The portable information device according to claim 1,wherein: a cushion member is placed between a rear surface of thesupport plate and the inner surface of at least one of the first chassismember and the second chassis member.
 7. The portable information deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: a damping member is on a rear surfaceside of the support plate.
 8. The portable information device accordingto claim 1, wherein: a main substrate on which an arithmetic unit ismounted is on the inner surface of the first chassis member, asub-substrate controlling a display state of the display is on the innersurface of the second chassis member, the main substrate and thesub-substrate are electrically connected by a main wiring line crossingthe first chassis member and the second chassis member, and the displayis electrically connected with the sub-substrate by a sub-wiring linedrawn out from a portion located on the inner surface side of the secondchassis member.
 9. The portable information device according to claim 1,wherein: the first chassis member and the second chassis member areelectrically connected, one end portion of the display and the secondchassis member are electrically connected, and another end portionopposite to the one end portion of the display and the first chassismember are electrically connected.
 10. The portable information deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein: the first chassis member is electricallyconnected with the first plate member, the second chassis member iselectrically connected with the second plate member, and the portableinformation device has: a first conductive member electricallyconnecting the first chassis member and the second chassis member byelectrically connecting the first plate member and the second platemember and a second conductive member electrically connecting the otherend portion of the display and the first chassis member by electricallyconnecting the other end portion of the display and the first platemember.
 11. A portable information device comprising: a first chassismember; a second chassis member foldably connected with the firstchassis member; a display over inner surfaces of the first chassismember and the second chassis member, and which is foldable into adouble-folded state; a main substrate on which an arithmetic unit ismounted is on the inner surface of the first chassis member; asub-substrate controlling a display state of the display is on the innersurface of the second chassis member, wherein: the main substrate andthe sub-substrate are electrically connected by a main wiring linecrossing the first chassis member and the second chassis member, and thedisplay is electrically connected with the sub-substrate by a sub-wiringline drawn out from a portion located on an inner surface side of thesecond chassis member; and a support plate has a first plate member onthe inner surface side of the first chassis member, a second platemember on the inner surface side of the second chassis member, and aflexible sheet-like member connecting the first plate member and thesecond plate member so as to be foldable into a double-folded state;wherein the flexible sheet-like member is on entire surfaces of thefirst plate member and the second plate member, and the display is fixedto a surface of the flexible sheet-like member.
 12. A portableinformation device comprising: a first chassis member; a second chassismember foldably connected with the first chassis member; a rectangulardisplay over inner surfaces of the first chassis member and the secondchassis member, and which is foldable into a double-folded state,wherein: the first chassis member and the second chassis member areelectrically connected, one end portion of the display and the secondchassis member are electrically connected, another end portion oppositeto the one end portion of the display is electrically connected with thefirst chassis member; and a support plate has a first plate member onthe inner surface side of the first chassis member, a second platemember on the inner surface side of the second chassis member, and aflexible sheet-like member connecting the first plate member and thesecond plate member so as to be foldable into a double-folded state;wherein the flexible sheet-like member is on entire surfaces of thefirst plate member and the second plate member, and the display is fixedto a surface of the flexible sheet-like member.